Helping the Workforce Meet the Future Needs of Industry: A Comparison Between the UK and South Africa

A survey to assess the future training needs of industry (1984)showed a swing away from the need to memorize facts and develop physical skills, to an increased need for the application of understanding. Describes the research into developing learning skills, which aimed at improving the processes of learning at the same time as learning products. Earlier work had identified the paucity of relevant learning skills. A mnemonic (MUD) helped to distinguish material needing different learning skills, while keys to understanding were developed to help learners structure their thinking and develop understanding of a topic. The work was replicated in South Africa in 1989 and the results showed improved learning skills, a reduction in training time and an improved perception by the trainers of the learners.